This charming little mountain town, along with the remains of the Nazi stronghold on the Obersalzberg, the Eagles’s Nest and Hitler’s Berghof. The town lies in an area known as the Berchtesgadener Land, a little peninsula of Germany inserted into the Austrian alps near Salzburg. Berchtesgaden is often associated with the picturesque Watzmann, at 2,713 m the third-highest mountain in Germany, which is renowned in the rock climbing community for its Ostwand, and a deep glacial lake by the name of Königssee. Another notable peak is the Kehlstein mountain (1,835 m) with its Kehlsteinhaus. Berchtesgaden can be an amazing day trip from either Salzburg or Munich, but is even more fun if you can stretch your visit to two days with an overnight stay.

credit: crosathorian

Nymphenburg Palace was built as a summer residence for Bavarian kings. It is a magnificent structure artistically shaped by the various Electors over its history. Exhibiting both baroque and rococo styles, the rooms are decorated with fantastic frescos and tapestries. The massive Great Hall was decorated in the Rococo style by Johann Baptist Zimmermann and François Cuvilliés the Elder under Elector Max III Joseph. A famous feature of the palace is the “Gallery of Beauties”, painted for King Ludwig I by Joseph Stieler. The 200-hectare park surrounding the palace is an attraction of its own with the canal and reflecting pool before the entrance which runs to a cascade at the far end of the gardens. This a popular recreation spot in Munich and it is quite relaxing to have a picnic by the water with the swans and ducks, and there are many hidden treasures within the park.

Opening hours
April-15 October: 9 am-6 pm
16 October-March: 10 am-4 pm
Open daily

Opening hours park
January, February, November: 6.30 am-6 pm
March: 6 am-6.30 pm
April, September: 6 am-8.30 pm
May-August: 6 am-9.30 pm
October: 6 am-7 pm
December: 6.30 am-5.30 pm

credit: ho visto nina volare

The group called “Sparifankerl-Pass” is successfully revitalising a historical tradition from the Alps region. It is a bizarre, fun ritual that focuses on the darker aspect of Christmas with the Sparifankerl Pass.

credit: tribp